Man gets life for murdering girlfriend

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A Providence man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for murdering the mother of his child, his girlfriend 18-year-old Dayvellis Cotto.

Judge Robert Krause sentenced Victor Arciliares, 23, to life in prison plus 45 years Thursday.

The prosecution says Arciliares shot and killed Cotto back in 2009.

• Suspect in teen mom's death in court

In court, Arciliares said the killing was an accident.

"I would do anything to try and prove to this family, to Maria's family, that it was an accident. I would do anything she wants. I would take a lie detector."

Prosecutor Maureen Keough says the shooting was no accident.

"It was harsh and it should be harsh because his conduct and no one else's cost that young woman her life."

Almost one year after killing his girlfriend, prosecutors say he killed again while out on bail. They say he and another man shot and killed Alfredo Barros - while Barros sat in a vehicle stopped at a red light in Pawtucket in 2010.

• Indictments handed down in 2010 murder

If convicted in the second murder, Arciliares would again face a mandatory sentence of life in prison for using a firearm while committing a crime of violence.

His attorney has entered a not guilty plea in that case.